Hello, this is my first post, hopefully I will provide enough information regarding my dilemma.
I own a '79 F-250 with Dana 60's front and back.
I just broke my second steering knuckle (drivers side). I picked up a parts truck in order to use the knuckle for my truck. Well, after I got the knuckle off and power washed it, it has a very small crack starting in the same spot my other two knuckle broke at. Now I'm considering investing in the knuckles from Reid Racing. My question is has anyone used these knuckles and what kind of steering modifications was necessary to make them work?
Thank you for your help.

 

Not many of us here use aftermarket stuff on our 60's, but I will venture a guess that if you call them, they will be more than willing to talk to you and answer your questions.

 

Where is the crack ?

 

Which knuckle? Are you still using the stock push / pull system? If yes, then this could be where your problem is. Do you run a block under the steering arm that attaches to the knuckle? Again if yes, then you can just about be guaranteed that this is your problem.
After a lift is installed most fail to realize that the steering geometry has changed and steering becomes limited. The limited swing of the pitman arm during suspension cycles and the fubky length of the short drag link causes the steering to work at the limits and can bind really very badly.
With the right steering geometry, your stock knuckles should be just fine, andlast a long time. If you are still running stock steering with any kind of a lift and have not converted to crossover yet, then you need to first consider crossover, or at least figureout what is breaking your knuckles.
If you are running larger tires and a lift of say 6 inches or more, then you really must consider x-over, and perhaps hydro assist. The hydro assist with a conventional tie rod mounting location will take away much of the load from the knuckle and rid you of your problem.
You should only really be consdering aftermarket knuckles if you already have the steering correct and have big tires with hydro assist, and still breaking components. Gotta be pretty extreme to justify aftermarket knuckles, or something has to be very wrong with your existing set-up.

 

This is not my knuckle but the picture represents where mine are cracking/breaking. I have the stock steering except for a drop down drag link. No block under steering arm. I have a 4" lift with 39's. Sounds like I should convert to a crossover, where can I get info. on a crossover?
Thanks

 

That break does look typicall of a drag link that is the wrong length and the box has reached its limit before the suspension is completed its cycle. When off-road, do you feel the wheel being tugged at? Usually the sector shaft breaks, and the box tries to come off of the frame.
Search a bit on this site for crossover, and you will see many, many options.
Since you have a D60, this is a very simple conversion, and can be a bolt on deal with minimal welding. Making up the draf link, and / or tappering the hole in the knuckle for the proper TRE is the toughest. The rest is pretty easy and straight foward.
This should eliminate you problem with breaking the driver side knuckle, and the lower drag link angle now that it attaches to the pass side knuckle should eliminate a bunch of stress, and help it survive.
Three trucks now with crossover and not a single broken knuckle. Busted a couple boxes, but not the knuckles. Lol.

 

X2

Thats exactly what it looks like. Ill second the motion to do crossover steering and get rid of the steering block. Dedenbear/reid racing knuckles are cool though buy will probably only delay the problem.